Go Take A Hike!

 I cannot think of a fun activity cheaper and more refreshing than a good hike! We recently took advantage of great weather and Dad’s day off to visit one of our favorite hiking spots. I particularly enjoy hikes (with kids) that have a fun destination. It is a perfect motivation to keep them moving! My husband on the other hand enjoys taking the random trail without a map (or looking at one) and see where it will take us. My “control freak”-self comes out at these moments. But while I silently muse over why I am bugged I come to realize how nice it is to just think and am reminded why I even like hiking in the first place. I highly recommend it!

Since the days are not hot, yet, we went around lunch time and took a picnic lunch with us….

And since we went later we were the only people on the trail and let these two run free! 

This was our destination. A 40 ft waterfall. Every time we see it, it looks different…

…and Little Sis was a bit thirsty;-) !

**There are probably some great trails near your home or within a short drive that you do not even know about. Take advantage of the many resources around you to find a good hike that matches your family’s abilities. There are maps at your city/town’s Visitor’s Center, there are Park Ranger’s, which I’m sure are full of information, and there are always your friends, neighbors, and family that you can talk to and see what they know is around. A great resource for us to find fun family friendly hikes has been from the employees at our local university’s Outdoor Rental Center. They are usually outdoor enthusiasts and know of all sorts of places within 3 hours around us.**

What are you waiting for? Get out and hit a trail or two before the weather really heats up. Enjoy all your senses and get moving! 

Have Fun!!